Their moments of truth - II

Since no presidentiable can afford to shun altogether – a few may boycott in one or few occasions – the impromptu question-and-answer version of campaigning now in vogue, their handlers have no other choice but to “prepare” their priceless “fighting cocks” thoroughly to do battle. Thus, their motto now is the Boys Scout’s “Be prepared” always.

And the range and depth of a presidential timber’s knowledge is ideally limitless, because theoretically the “complete” – as in a Mr. Know All – President of the Philippines, or any leader of a nation for that matter, is second only to God. Perhaps only now that their EQ and IQ have been really tested in these candid debates requiring spontaneity, that the Palace aspirers have realized the awesome role of the presidency.

So far asked have been typical election issues, such as, corruption, peace and order, the national economy, the problems in governance, health, education, and population, the change of form of government, the possible electoral reforms, the growing unemployment and under-employment, and other national issues focused by the forum facilitators in their questions.

However, in the La Salle experience, one has noted that the erudite students’ panel of interrogators was smart in framing and choosing questions without sticking to the stereotype issues. One expects that future skeds by other sponsoring groups would pose more tacky and tricky questions and more varied and expanded topics to test the true mettle of the respondents.

For samplers… If he were GMA, would he now appoint, or not, the successor of Chief Justice Reynato Puno who retires on May 17, 2010, to titillate their group on the Constitution? Would he favor the abrogation of the American Forces Visiting Agreement to find out the respondents’ know-how in sovereignty issues? Or, to explore the candidates’ foreign policy insights, or none of it, what’s their stand on possible “taming” of Yemen and Somalia by force?

And, to test their know-how on world finance and economics, should the Philippines do away with the general agreement on tariff and trade worldwide? Or, what’s his opinion on hints to devalue the peso? And, to rest at peace that the president is concerned with the apocalyptic scenario of climate change, do they know what was right, or wrong, with the Copenhagen Summit?

Of the 10 presidential candidates, perhaps only two, at most three, who may approximate the overall knowledge and talent required of a truly qualified head of state. The rest are either old dogs who can’t adjust to learn new tricks, or nearly dense to do justice to the august position they seek, and/or just plain blindly gutsy to dream for a position they know nothing about.

To borrow from the barbershop jester, “Nag-hilas-hilas ug nagbugal-bugal sa ilang pangandoy… Abi nila nga ang presidente sa Pilipinas agid-agid ra sa presidente sa baryo kapilya, o sa karaan nga tenyente del baryo. Wa makatugkad unsa ka daku ug kabug-at sa katungdanan nga ilang gidaman”.

Indeed, the President of the Philippines has to be not only an intellectual – not a moron or a dolt – but also a leader of proven experience, knowledge and wisdom, and it helps if he has a good track record of public service, as compared to a neophyte.

Meantime, while a vice-president is a virtual spare tire of a healthy incumbent president, he is likewise just a heartbeat away from the presidency. Once the sitting president conks out for one reason or another, the vice-president comes in. If only for this unexpected contingency that the present crop of eight vice-presidents-to-be, should also be involved in the public forums participated in by the presidentiables.

In fact, the 64 senatorial wannabes who at the moment are not being kept tab by the electorate – and practically unknown until now – may also be harnessed in like manner.

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